Oregon Man Dies In I-10 Crash

An out-of-town man lost his life in Thursday night's five-vehicle pile up on I-10. Two of the vehicles involved were 18-wheelers.

State Police say it happened when a dog wandered onto I-10 just west of the Whiskey Bay Bridge, causing a traffic jam. Troopers say an 18-wheeler failed to stop for the traffic, hitting a motorcycle from behind as well as three other vehicles.

The man on the motorcycle, Phillip Rizzo of Oregon, died on the scene. The driver of the 18-wheeler that police say caused the accident, James Bennet of Jacksonville, Louisiana, has been charged with Reckless Operation and Negligent Homicide. He will be booked into the Iberville Parish Prison.

West-bound lanes were blocked off for nearly three hours after the crash. Traffic was rerouted onto US 190 via LA 415 during that time.

Susan Auburn of Youngsville and John Listi of Abbeville were also involved in the crash. Authorities are awaiting toxicology results, but they do not suspect impairment to have been a factor in the crash.